How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From Instagram

Can we get an official ruling as to whether we count the 903” since it technically came after closing day? Either way what an impressive season, even more impressive on a relative basis on the Wasatch Back blowing by records by 50% or so. Thank you La Niña 🫶. Now that we got that out of the way, even I’m ready for some sun and other szn activities… so many activities. #yeahbuoy

Can we get an official ruling as to whether we count the 903” since it technically came after closing day? Either way what an impressive season, even more impressive on a relative basis on the Wasatch Back blowing by records by 50% or so. Thank you La Niña 🫶. Now that we got that out of the way, even I’m ready for some sun and other szn activities… so many activities. #yeahbuoy ...

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Tradition continues! Tax day pow day! Probably, definitely not a blower snow around the face pow day, but a refresh and 4.25-9.75” ain’t too bad. Not sure if we’re getting 21” before closing day, but there’s a chance to hit the 900.  #yeahbuoy

Tradition continues! Tax day pow day! Probably, definitely not a blower snow around the face pow day, but a refresh and 4.25-9.75” ain’t too bad. Not sure if we’re getting 21” before closing day, but there’s a chance to hit the 900. #yeahbuoy ...

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What a difference a week makes!! ⛷️: @thomas_laakso 📸 : matt campbell #yeahbuoy

What a difference a week makes!! ⛷️: @thomas_laakso 📸 : matt campbell #yeahbuoy ...

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Just because… traditions. Tax day (maybe pow day??). Can’t believe that 6 days ago I was skiing the best day of the season & now it’s pushing 65 degrees outside. #yeahbuoy

Just because… traditions. Tax day (maybe pow day??). Can’t believe that 6 days ago I was skiing the best day of the season & now it’s pushing 65 degrees outside. #yeahbuoy ...

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And that’s one hell of a wrap!!! 🤯 
Thanks for the pic @thomas_laakso. Friends on a powder day!!! #yeahbuoy

And that’s one hell of a wrap!!! 🤯
Thanks for the pic @thomas_laakso. Friends on a powder day!!! #yeahbuoy
...

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Incoming! Last one on the horizon until about the 3rd week of April, as far as I can tell. What a season! #yeahbuoy #endlesswinter

Incoming! Last one on the horizon until about the 3rd week of April, as far as I can tell. What a season! #yeahbuoy #endlesswinter ...

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It ain’t over, big poppa landing for tax day pow day, and a few more stacking behind this that pull through well into May. 1500 inches LFG! #buoyyeah

It ain’t over, big poppa landing for tax day pow day, and a few more stacking behind this that pull through well into May. 1500 inches LFG! #buoyyeah ...

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900” is waiting around the corner. #yeahbuoy

900” is waiting around the corner. #yeahbuoy ...

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A couple bangers (including the one that started last night) and then a looks to be all quiet on the western front after the storm that starts the 3rd. Crossing fingers for a gradual warm up, if not I’ll be giving buoy rides down State Street. #yeahbuoy

A couple bangers (including the one that started last night) and then a looks to be all quiet on the western front after the storm that starts the 3rd. Crossing fingers for a gradual warm up, if not I’ll be giving buoy rides down State Street. #yeahbuoy ...

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Today.  Next storm on the 29th, then 3rd, then….wait for it…. looks to go quiet for a while. May not even get a tax day pow day this year 🫤. Get it while the gettin’s good. #yeahbuoy

Today. Next storm on the 29th, then 3rd, then….wait for it…. looks to go quiet for a while. May not even get a tax day pow day this year 🫤. Get it while the gettin’s good. #yeahbuoy ...

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Do you remember in the fall when everyone was trying to figure out what a triple dip La Niña would mean this year? Snow, lots and lots of snow is the answer. Just broke snow records in Utah up to this point in the season. More snow today, another sneaker coming in on the 29th that didn’t make my radar, and then waiting on the 3rd. This is the cover of a now ‘vintage’ movie from @mspfilms about the 2010-11 season. I wonder what this season’s ski movies will be called? #yeahbuoy

Do you remember in the fall when everyone was trying to figure out what a triple dip La Niña would mean this year? Snow, lots and lots of snow is the answer. Just broke snow records in Utah up to this point in the season. More snow today, another sneaker coming in on the 29th that didn’t make my radar, and then waiting on the 3rd. This is the cover of a now ‘vintage’ movie from @mspfilms about the 2010-11 season. I wonder what this season’s ski movies will be called? #yeahbuoy ...

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Hey now! What’s up first day of spring? Another buoypop, April 3 still on the radar. This week is looking pretty sick, early front today and then main event looks like 23rd-25th or so. Hope you got your groomers in, now back to your regularly scheduled programming. #yeahbuoy

Hey now! What’s up first day of spring? Another buoypop, April 3 still on the radar. This week is looking pretty sick, early front today and then main event looks like 23rd-25th or so. Hope you got your groomers in, now back to your regularly scheduled programming. #yeahbuoy ...

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Groomerbuoy in effect. Sunshine daydream for a few and then right back into it, after that I’m tentatively looking at April 2-3. Corndoggin and frosty beers on tap for this weekend. #yeahbuoy

Groomerbuoy in effect. Sunshine daydream for a few and then right back into it, after that I’m tentatively looking at April 2-3. Corndoggin and frosty beers on tap for this weekend. #yeahbuoy ...

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